Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has barely begun in the US, but it's nearly over here; I've just returned from a thoroughly excellent dinner which I'll tell more about tomorrow. In the meantime, I'm re-reading my Gratitude List from 2008, all of which still applies (except for the part about DP being away), and wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving, or else an excellent Thursday, as the case may be.

Wayback Wednesday

This concoction - slow roasted rhubarb and peaches - was one of my favorite things to eat during my first stint in Canberra, and was strongly associated with my memories of Australia after I left - mainly because this is the only place I've ever found rhubarb and peaches in season at the same time. (Although I suppose you could use frozen.) The other day, I made my first batch in nearly 3 years. Just as good as ever.

Getting crafty

When we moved to Canberra the first time, in 2008, we bought a table and chairs. Not heirloom quality or anything, but functional. Four years, two moves, and about 4,000 meals later, most of the chairs were looking like this when I set up the new kitchen.

A bit worn and stained, and in most cases, with the seat cushions coming loose from the seat frame. I decided it was time to spruce them up a bit, and did some research on the internet to find a solution in line with my level of handiness and desired financial expenditure. Then I went and found some fabric that I liked, brought it home, measured it against the chair seats, cut it into squares, folded it around the detached chair seats, stapled it in place with a heavy-duty stapler, and re-attached the seats. And voila!

Presentable chairs! Suitable for guests! And who would’ve guessed that having all my seat cushions falling off would have made it all that much simpler!

I’m beginning to see why people get into this whole DIY thing.